Enjoy a pleasant ride on the quiet country roads, visiting Dales beauty spot Bolton Abbey, with its 12th-century Augustinian monastery, before returning by steam train

This week, we have swapped walking boots for bikes.

We’ve teamed up with Craven District Council, which has produced a series of free cycling guides, ranging in length from five to 15 miles and graded easy, moderate or difficult.

“We are working hard to ensure the Tour de France will leave a lasting cycling legacy in this area,” said Bruce Dinsmore, the council’s sport development officer. “We hope these guides will encourage people to give cycling a go.”

And, we hope to publish some more of the routes over the coming weeks.

We start with a pleasant 11-kilometre ride from Skipton to Bolton, which is mainly on quiet country roads, taking you past several local attractions including Embsay and Bolton Abbey Railway, Yorkshire Dales Ice Cream Parlour, Hesketh Farm Park and Bolton Abbey estate.

It finishes at Bolton Abbey Railway Station, with the option to take a steam train back to Embsay or to cycle back to Skipton following the same route in reverse.

Step by step:

At the roundabout at the top of Skipton High Street take the second exit right onto The Bailey.

After 700 metres, turn left onto Skipton Road (signposted Embsay). Stay on this road, which goes under the bypass and enters Embsay in 1.5 kilometres (and later merges into East Lane).

At the village post office/shop turn right onto Shires Lane and when you reach the T-junction turn right onto Low Lane. Continue on this road for three kilometres (later merging into Holme Lane).

Continue onto Green Lane, stay on this road for 3.4 km until you reach a T-junction, but beware there is cattle grid at bottom of hill after Halton East and a farm gate on the next descent.

Arrive at Bolton Abbey. At the T-junction turn right onto B6160, but be careful as you will be turning across traffic.

Take the next right opposite the Devonshire Arms Hotel along a gated public right of way. Again take care as you will be turning across traffic. Stay on this road for 600m until you reach the A59.

Cross the A59, but be aware of fast moving vehicles and follow the public right of way to the station.

For more information, visit cravendc.gov.uk/cycleguides. 

Fact File

Start: Skipton High Street Distance: 11 km (or 22km if doing return), reaching a height of 150m Going: Easy Map: Ordnance Survey: Explorer OL2 Facilities/Refreshments: Plenty in Skipton, Embsay and Bolton Abbey

  • Please follow the cycling code: always follow the Highway Code, be seen, fit lights and use them in poor visibility, wear a helmet and conspicuous clothing, keep your speed under control and look ahead at the road conditions. When cycling on shared use paths: give way to pedestrians, keep to your side of any dividing line, be prepared to slow down or stop if necessary, use your bell . Anyone embarking on this ride does so at their own risk and neither the Craven Herald nor Craven District Council can take no responsibility for the complete accuracy of the route. Restrictions on space mean that this article provides a general summary of the route – it is advised that anyone planning to follow the ride should take a copy of the relevant Ordnance Survey map.